In view of increasing diversity regarding the cultural background of children in pre-schools and the like, it is important to know how they differ in their perception of social networks. This study investigated the perception of social support networks in young children from three different eco-social milieus. Participants ( N = 138, 4–6 year olds) were recruited from German urban nuclear families and two groups of rural extended families in Central America. The support networks were analyzed by means of two game scenarios for “Sharing” and “Asking for Help” with a family collage in addition. Results show significant differences between groups in regard to the size, structure, and relationship patterns of support networks. Networks of urban German children included mainly friends, parents, and siblings, whereas those from Central American children also included other members of the extended family. The perceived importance of father, mother, and siblings differed between groups. Children’s willingness to share correlated with parental socio-cultural orientation. Practical implications for early childhood education are discussed in view of children’s socio-cultural background.
The aim of our study was to explore young children’s social and learning environments in contexts that are different from the predominant Western lifestyle. We expected different cultural groups, both living in Costa Rica, to provide their 6- to 18-months old children with different learning environments. Our sample consisted of 26 Bribri families and 24 Guanacastecan families. To test the impact of formal education we additionally divided the whole sample into a higher schooling sample (18 families; at least one parent had completed secondary school) and a lower schooling sample (32 families). We used a multi method design including interviews, questionnaires and spot observations and analyzed the data following the qualitative approach of thematic analysis. Additional chi-square tests showed that Guanacastecan caregivers and caregivers from families with higher formal education provide their children with a more distal socialization style (verbal and object-centered behavior). Caregivers from families with lower formal education engage more in proximal behavior (primary care, body contact, and stimulation). Bribri families also put more emphasis on interdependence-oriented socialization goals. Guanacastecan caregivers highlighted independence-oriented socialization goals. Our study confirms socialization strategies and children’s learning environments respectively emphasizing more distal or more proximal experiences and indicates that sociodemographic profiles (especially formal schooling) must be taken into account when studying children’s development across different cultures.
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